With that, Ms. Z. ushered the group through the Tundra Tunnel and into the arena’s bowels. Periodically, guards were stationed in the underground area. Every time the group walked by security, the guards nodded at Ms. Z.
They entered the greenroom to find the ZERO family standing in shock. Blayne ran over to Ethan, who immediately wrapped his arms around him.
“I was so scared,” Ethan said. “No one could tell me what was happening or whether you and your friends were safe.”
“Something is interfering with their communications.” Blayne took a moment to inspect Ethan. He looked fine, maybe a bit disheveled, but he didn’t look like he’d been injured. “Are you okay? Was anyone on stage hurt?”
“We’re fine. What about you?”
“We were on the opposite side of the arena from the body. Other than being tackled to the ground by Ms. Z., we’re all fine.”
“Yeah, Zahava has amazingly quick reflexes. I’ve been on the receiving end of one of her tackles before.”
A throat clearing to their left caused them to break apart. Lucas stood there with his tablet PC in hand. Now that Blayne and Ethan had separated, he gave them a quick nod and walked away.
“What was that about?” Ethan asked.
“He’s worried about your image as the American heartthrob.”
“Yeah, but everyone in here is family.”
“True, but you’re the same man who doesn’t think Lucas realizes we’re dating. Trust me, he knows.”
“Not this again.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “He’s clueless.”
Blayne was about to say something when there was a loud whistle.
“Thank you,” Megan Flores said, nodding to Ms. A., who had apparently been the whistler. “As you know, something is interfering with cell phones right now. Even our walkie-talkies aren’t working.”
“That’s because the same jamming technology that’s taken out cell phones interferes with signal transmission and reception of walkie-talkies,” Ms. A. said in her clipped Indian accent.
Flores gave Ms. A. a polite nod. “I don’t know much right now. But I’m happy to answer any questions I can.”
The barrage of questions was immediate. Unfortunately, Ms. Flores didn’t have many answers.
“No, we don’t know how many people were injured.”
“No, we don’t know who the man was who dove into the crowd.”
“No, we don’t know if this was an accident or a crime.”
Blane leaned against Ethan as the questions went on for a few minutes. He leaned his head down to Ethan’s ear. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m shook. This is all way too familiar,” he admitted.
“Tell me about it.”
The next couple of hours flew by in a haze. The group was questioned by the local police when they got there. Then the FBI and the ATF showed up and had their own questions. Eventually, the group was informed that the arena was secure and had been thoroughly swept for other devices. By this time, it was almost two in the morning. Everyone had a weary look. Jamie had curled up on the ground at some point and fallen asleep using his mother’s lap as a pillow. Kira had stared at her phone every other minute until cell service was returned. The FBI had found the signal-jamming device and safely disabled it.
“Are you ready to go home?” Ethan asked Blayne when they were given permission to leave.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
* * * *
Dr. Hennigan
She needed to find a way out of there. She ducked down periodically to see if she was being pursued. At least once, Dr. Hennigan had seen the dark-clad figure, but thankfully, the figure had never found her to finish the job.
